CBSE Class 9th Economy NCERT Question and Answer Chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge

Question 1. Describe how the poverty line is estimated in India?

Answer:

  • Poverty in India is assessed based on income or consumption levels. A person is considered poor if their income falls below the minimum level required for basic needs. The poverty line accounts for food, clothing, footwear, fuel, education, and medical expenses.
  • As of 2000, a family of five earning less than Rs. 1,640 per month (urban: Rs. 2,270) is considered below the poverty line. Calorie requirements are also factored in, with 2400 calories for rural areas and 2100 calories for urban areas.

Question 2. Do you think that present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?

Answer:

The current poverty estimation method focuses solely on basic needs like food, clothing, and fuel, often at the lowest quality. However, it lacks adjustments for inflation and market fluctuations, making it inadequate.

Question 3. Describe poverty trends in India since 1973?

Answer:

India’s poverty ratio has significantly declined over the years: from 55% in 1973 to 26% in 2000. Despite a stable population of around 320 million poor individuals during 1973-1993, the number decreased to about 260 million by 2000. Rural areas consistently had higher poverty ratios than urban areas. If this trend continues, the percentage of people below the poverty line may fall below 20% in the coming years.

Question 4. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India?

Answer:

  • Colonial Legacy: The British colonial administration’s low economic development policies had lasting effects.
  • Slow Growth and Fewer Opportunities: Persistently low growth rates led to limited job opportunities and income growth.
  • Population Growth: High population growth exacerbated the challenge.
  • Income Inequality: Unequal distribution of resources contributed to income disparities.

Question 5. Identify the social and economic groups which are most vulnerable to poverty in India.

Answer:

  1. Social Groups Vulnerable to Poverty:
  • Scheduled caste households
  • Scheduled tribe households
  • Economic Groups Vulnerable to Poverty:
  • Rural agricultural labour households
  • Urban casual labour households

Question 6. Give an account of interstate disparities of poverty in India.

Answer:

  • Diverse Poverty Rates: Poverty rates differ among states, with varying success in reducing poverty since the 1970s.
  • Below National Average: In 20 states and union territories, the poverty ratio is below the national average of 26%.
  • Poorest States: Odisha and Bihar remain the two poorest states, with poverty ratios of 47% and 43%, respectively (both rural and urban poverty).
  • Improvement in Other States: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal have significantly reduced poverty due to factors like food distribution, human resource development, agricultural growth, and land reforms.

Question 7. Describe global poverty trends.

Answer:

  1. Global Poverty Reduction:
  • The proportion of people living on less than $1 per day declined from 28% in 1990 to 21% in 2001.
  • Substantial global poverty reduction occurred since the 1980s.
  • Regional Differences:
  • China and Southeast Asia: Rapid economic growth and human resource development led to significant poverty reduction.
  • South Asian Countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan): Progress has been slower.
  • Latin America: Poverty ratio remained relatively stable.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: Poverty increased from 41% in 1981 to 46% in 2001.
  • Former Socialist Countries (e.g., Russia): Poverty resurfaced despite earlier claims of non-existence.

Question 8. Describe current government strategy of poverty alleviation?

Answer:

The current anti-poverty strategy of the government is based broadly on two planks

  • promotion of economic growth
  • targeted anti-poverty programs.

9. Answer the following questions briefly

(i) What do you understand by human poverty?

Answer:

Human poverty extends beyond mere income deficiency. It encompasses the denial of essential opportunities—political, social, and economic—for individuals to maintain a decent standard of living. Components include illiteracy, limited job prospects, inadequate healthcare, sanitation, and discrimination based on caste and gender.

(ii) Who are the poorest of the poor?

Answer:

Women, children (especially the girl child) and elder people in a poor family are regarded as the poorest of the poor because they are systematically denied equal access to resources available to the family.

(iii) What are the main features of the National Rural Employment

Guarantee Act 2005?

Answer:

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 ensures 100 days of annual employment for every household. Initially implemented in 200 districts, it later expanded to 600 districts, with one-third of jobs reserved for women.

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